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Serious Crime Bill [Lords]

I do not want to add more confusion where there is plenty already, but in my experience, in a civil proceeding that may involve criminal allegations, the court, in order to be persuaded of those allegations, will still apply the civil standard, but it will slide up the civil standard. If there is an allegation of murder, the court will require to be better persuaded than if there is an allegation that somebody parked on a double yellow line. That is simply a flexible application of the civil standard. The Minister should not persuade himself that the Bill—[Interruption.] The Minister can take the advice of the Leader of the House or my advice—I think that I have practised a little longer than the right hon. Gentleman. The Minister is making a false argument if he is relying on McCann to demonstrate a point that plainly is not the case.